Everton will surely sign a centre-back this summer, but it looks like they’re about to choose the wrong option.

I mean, why sign the ageing Cristian Zapata when Kurt Zouma is under their nose?

Calciomercato have claimed both Watford and Everton are interested in a deal for Zapata who plays for AC Milan and is rated at £2.25m on Transfermarkt. He’ll be available on a free in the summer so financially it makes sense in the short-term.

The long-term is a different story, though.

He’s 32-years-old and the reason Milan are letting him go is because they want to build a team around young players. That’s exactly what Everton should be doing, and the fact they’ve seen what Zouma can do makes the prospect of a deal even crazier.

The Chelsea man has looked back to his old self at Goodison this season. Before his major injury. he was one of the best centre-backs in the league, and now he’s getting back up there. At just 24-years-old, signing him would be a great long-term investment for a club needing to build something after so much investment.

Indeed, the 32 games he’s played this season should have been enough to convince the club they have to make his move permanent in the summer, but perhaps it hasn’t. Meanwhile, Zapata can’t hold down a place at Milan, so why do Everton think he’s good enough for them.

The Toffees have a big plan to challenge for the top six within the next few years, but if they sign players like Zapata but ignore the likes of Zouma then there’s no chance they’ll build a team capable of battling it out with the league’s big boys.

Everton fans, who do you think your team should sign to play centre-back this summer? Join the discussion by commenting below.